June 30, 2008
The Beckman’s are friends of mine from my animal training days at Sea World. Joel has since started his own dog training business. If you are in the need of a dog trainer, Joel is your guy. He has extensive experience working with many animals and is an expert in his field! Check out their site and give them some blog love 
There are just those times when everything just seems to click at a wedding…the bride and groom can’t keep their hands off each other, the DJ was rockin, the venue was perfect, the bride and groom were stunning, EVERYONE was happy, beautiful sunset, smiles were everywhere, puffy clouds in the sky…it just “clicked”.
Lets start with Liz.
Yes…beautiful, yes…sweet, yes…she does come standard as a duplicate. Liz is a twin! Can you believe there are two of these “stunners” running around? Sorry gentleman, they’re now BOTH taken.
…and see how happy that makes Joel!
The party ended with a sweet sparkler send off!!!
Liz and Joel, it was an HONOR to photograph your wedding. Thanks for inviting me along…it was quite the party!
June 29, 2008
Okay I know I said I was posting the BIG DAY today but I’m going to have to withhold images of the bride and groom for now (please don’t kill me Lizzie)…I have SO many images from this wedding that I love!!!
It’s all REALLY because I want to start off with the AMAZING venue! This blog post is dedicated to the amazing and talented Steve. Steve is the man responsible for the Beckman wedding venue. The wedding took place on the Mainwaring farm in rural Pennsylvania. When Liz and Joel got engaged in June of 07, Liz told her dad, Steve, they wanted to get married on the farm where she grew up. Steve’s parents, Frederick and Dorothy bought the Mainwaring farm in 1952 when he was just a year old.
Steve bought the farm from his parents and that is where his twin daughters were raised. He grew up taking care of the farm and has been restoring and improving it for as long as anyone can remember. Liz thought the farm was perfect for the wedding and the only thing needed for the big event would be cutting the grass, which is a task in itself.
Well, that’s not what Steve had in mind. He spent everyday for a whole year improving the farm. He dug extra ponds, leveled an entire field for a tent, and built a beautiful brick patio around the waterfall for the ceremony with a wheelchair accessible entrance. He constructed a lotus garden, poured hundreds of yards of concrete, seeded numerous acres for grass, built an entire new façade of windows on the barn, made a separate entryway for the catering staff, brought electricity and running water to the middle of a pasture, built a cabin in the woods for the men and women’s restroom and built it’s own septic system. He raised fish called golden orbs specifically for the wedding so they would be visible in the moonlight, and he raised lotus plants and lily pads for his lotus garden over the winter. He literally put in 15 hour days and apparently had a blast doing it. He worked each day with the words of his mother in his head, “Take it a day at a time.” He continues to enjoy the farm as the place that has been special to his family for over 55 years. His daughter was married on his parents wedding anniversary, June 21st, so Lizzie has a 70 year legacy to look forward to!
Now lets not forget about the bride and groom….some details from the day
As if the place wasn’t beautiful enough….just check out the view at night!!!
Steve, A million congratulations!!! You have the most beautiful daughters inside and out! You are incredibly talented and its time for the world to realize it! Thank you for inviting us to your beautiful home…the entire experience was just SO special!
June 28, 2008
Well yippie for me! I grew up in Pennsylvania so I love the green trees and puffy clouds!! I was looking forward to it. This wedding was THE most important wedding I’ve shot to date! The bride and groom are my good friends Lizzie and Joel. I wanted to STAY good friends with them… thats why I was SOOO nervous the day of the wedding. Not nervous in a bad way, nervous like I’m about to compete in a swim meet and there’s a good chance I can come in first place!!!
Here is the gorgeous couple. You may notice them from some of my other portfolio work. What can I say, they are stunning….and so was everyone else at the wedding!!! Today I’m posting the Rehearsal/Dinner only. You’ll have to wait for the next post to see the real goods
Lets start off with the wedding rehearsal…just a sneak peek of what the next day has in store
The rehearsal dinner was hosted by Lizzie’s gymnastics coach from when she was little. They have remained close even after all of these years. It really says a lot about the type of people they are. They really value friendships. I think its a wonderful quality.
Check out the volunteer security staff
Here are some of the well thought out details….the apple martini was to die for! Taylor Weldon was the chef for the day and as you can see, the food and presentation were impeccable!
This was my favorite (right behind the apple-tini)
Liz and Joel…may your marriage be as happy as you were on this weekend.
Stay tuned for the big wedding…..
June 7, 2008
My good friend Karey had a baby shower on Monday and although I wasn’t commissioned to shoot it, I was asked to attend. Of course, I always bring my camera. Its a really easy and fun way for me to give back to my friends and I just love it. I’m the type of person that is happy by making others happy.
Our friend Becky put the whole thing together and I just loved all of the little details.
Here’s Karey. How beautiful is she?!!!! They’re going to name the little baby Izzy. Its a GIRL!
I’ve mentioned before that I love to swim. Well, I also love to surf and Karey and I have been surfing together before and I told her if she didn’t make a water baby out of Izzy, I would. So… my friend Lori and I got her these cute rash guards (shirt-like tops that you wear surfing) with matching bottoms. I LOVE it!
Karey getting a little practice in.
You’re going to make a great mom Karey!
May 11, 2008
Just a little something to start out with. My mother’s day otter pic!
In honor of mothers day I would like to dedicate this post to my mother, Sue.
My mom has been a wonderful support throughout my life. She has taught me that I can be anything I want to be. She has supported EVERY one of my decisions, even when they were crazy ideas. Even when I wanted to quit my job, after 12 years, and pursue photography!!! She was my number one fan. I remember her always boasting about my photography and I would say “it’s just because you’re my mother that you love my work.”
She believed in me before I believed in myself!
HERE is that wonderful woman…
I took some portraits of her/us too…
So in honor of mothers day,
I thank you for raising 2 children by yourself. Thank you for sacrificing for us, thank you for showing me what it is to be loving and giving, unconditionally to any and everyone! Thank you for giving of yourself and NEVER asking for anything in return. I APPRECIATE you mom!
Thanks for teaching me how to cook, to sew, to change the oil, air filter, and tire on my car
Thanks for teaching me how to work hard and “do it yourself”
Thank you for showing me how to be an independent, self-sufficient woman.
I am the person I am because of your love. Thank you
A million thank you’s
Happy Mothers Day. I wish I could give you the world and make all of your dreams come true. You deserve it!!!
Oh and I’d also like to give a shout out to ALL of the mom’s out there!!! I don’t have any children myself but I DO know how hard you work and how exhausting it can be. I honestly don’t know how you do it…I am amazed!
March 26, 2008
We had a little get together for my friend Beckie because she is going to have a little boy, Jack. Here is a picture of the little guy all cuddled up inside his mom’s belly. During the shower Beckie had a video of Jack so I took a snapshot off the TV. The new 4D sonograms allow you to see his face and everything. Technology really is amazing.
Isn’t he adorable?
His Mommy…
As usual, baby bingo and other games
A group shot…
and… drum roll please….
***warning…3 of my friends at SeaWorld have all gone preggo. They are all killer whale trainers. So, if you’re not planning on getting pregnant I would stay away from Shamu stadium, there’s obviously somethin’ in the water
March 4, 2008
Today is my birthday. I have no idea where the time went or when I’m going to actually grow up, but today, I am 37. Wow.
I thought I’d post about my life and take time to reflect on all of the blessings. I am engaged to the most wonderful man in the world. We have been together for over 6 years and we are just as happy now as we were in those first wonderful months of dating (you know that giddy feeling you have when you see that person). Well, I still have that feeling So, I thought I’d show you who Ross is……. the first picture is of us seconds after we got engaged. He is not the type of man that buys me flowers……he is the type of man that warms my side of the bed before I get in it…..so thoughtful…….
So back to my blessings: this year is going to be the best year of my life. My business is slowly and steadily growing. I am getting married in July!!! I live in San Diego (the best city on earth), I have the most amazing family and friends who go out of their way to support me. I am also networking with the coolest peers you can find and I’m doing everything in my power to make my dreams come true.
Life is great! I strongly encourage all of you to follow your dreams. Life is too short to do anything else. Make yourself happy, we only get one shot at this time on earth…WHAT ARE YOU DOING TODAY THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY???
Please visit JeshDeRox’s “Remembering” if you need some inspiration.
Thank you for inviting me into your life, if only for a brief moment. Oh and happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me la la la la la la la happy birthday to meeeeeeeeee (my family sings to me EVERY birthday over the phone…its a tradition and I always look forward to it….I love you guys)
I love the field shot with the sun going down in the background. And I am always a fan of some good ol’ long grass! Stellar shots! xo
WOW! Beautiful really sums up what I feel for these images. Your love for photography + for your two friends really shows in your images. I’m so happy that the experience you had was amazing
A picture is worth a thousand words and these sure prove that. What a beautiful couple. Fantastic job, Lisa.
Wonderful shots, Lisa. You did a great job in capturing their happiness. I like the pictures in the row boat.
You got amazing shots without me feeling like I had to stand still for a photo shoot on my wedding day. You were able to capture all of the events in a fun and unobtrusive way. Thanks for everything.
We are so happy with our photos!! It is such a blessing to have you as our wedding photographer and to have you in our lives! You seriously have unending talent.